Ronaldinho broke the internet with the first YouTube video to hit 1 million views online
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Ronaldinho was the first footballer to go viral after starring in the first YouTube which hit 1 million views.
Kim Kardashian balancing champagne on her backside in a shoot for Paper magazine was deemed to have "broken the internet" but R10, football's greatest ever entertainer, did it way before that.
Nike struck gold when they decided to put Ronaldo de Assis Moreira to work in order to promote their new pair of white and gold Nike Tiempo boots.
The three minute clip saw Ronaldinho perform keepie uppie one twos with the crossbar and the footage prompted a lot of debate as to whether it was actually legitimate but irrespective of that it's a thoroughly enjoying watch.
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The advert, released 18 years ago, became the first video to amass one million views on YouTube - a monumental achievement considering it was back in 2005 where Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites weren't even a thing.
Ten years on, Nike would then re-release the video on their channel to mark its anniversary and the commercial currently sits on over 8 million views.
The Ballon d'Or winner starred in another Nike advert when he was one of many big names to start in the 'Awaken the Phantom' clip and also featured in the incredible World Cup 'GOAT experiment' commercial released late last year.
The video is so iconic, Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez recreated the stunt, for real, against Everton in 2021..
With City already 2-0 to the good inside the first 15 minutes, Mahrez picked up the ball outside the Everton box and pinged a wonderful shot towards goal.
yo Mahrez did the Ronaldinho Off The Crossbar NIKE commercial but it wasn't fake pic.twitter.com/maQRDKbAlF
— amadí (@amadoit__) May 24, 2021
It bounced off the crossbar rather than going in, but the ball arrived back at Mahrez's feet in a perfect arc - and he instantly controlled it in exactly the same spot he took his original shot.
Ronaldinho has been playing in charity games after hanging up his boots officially in 2018 but recently revealed his son Joao Mendes is to continue his legacy after signing for Barcelona.
Yes he is coming now," he told RAC1, via MARCA.
"I'm never out of the club. Barcelona is part of life. Wherever I go I take Barcelona with me.
"With the arrival of my son at Barca I'll be more present than ever."
Featured Image Credit: Nike
Topics: Ronaldinho, Brazil, Barcelona, Nike
